Naledi Awards nominees

Naledi Awards nominations were announced.

The 8th Annual Naledi Theatre Awards will takes place on 7 March 2011 at the Lyric Theatre in Gold Reef City.

Judged by producers from the theatre like Welcome Msomi and arts journalists such as Peter Feldman, Zingi Mkefa, and the awards have a tradition of sniffing out noteworthy work in South African theatre.

The nominations are:

BEST PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL (The Joan Brickhill Award) - Sponsored by Christopher Seabrooke

Pieter Toerien Productions, for their bold staging of Evita; a production directed by Paul Warwick Griffin that packed out the Toerien Theatre at Montecasino.

Big Concerts and Showtime Management for the brash, carefree ABBA-inspired spectacular, Mamma Mia! directed by Phyllida Lloyd.

The SA State Theatre and Packed House Productions for the new local show, Shaka Zulu, jointly directed by Deon Opperman and Samson Khumalo.

The Market Theatre for Songs of Migration, which was written & directed by James Ngcobo, and based on the original play at the South African State Theatre called ‘The Rehearsal’.

The Joburg Theatre for the spectacularly-staged The Boys in the Photograph, which was directed by the award-winning stalwart Janice Honeyman.

BEST PRODUCTION OF A PLAY

Death of a Colonialist, a startling play which “intercuts” between a South African classroom and home, and was written by Greg Latter and directed by Craig Freim.

Girl in the Yellow Dress, which was produced in association with The Live Theatre (Newcastle) and The Citizen's Theatre (Glasgow), was written by Craig Higginson, and directed by veteran SA director Malcolm Purkey.

The Pen, which tells of a young playwright in the throes of writing a new play, and was written by Monde Mayephu and directed by Mpho Molepo.

The tireless Daphne Kuhn at The Old Mutual Theatre on the Square came up with two nominees: Master Harold and the Boys, the Athol Fugard contemporary classic, which was directed by James Ngcobo.

We and Them, an engrossing drama which examined the life of the ageing Wallis Simpson. It was co-presented with Davnic Productions and directed by Ingrid Sonnichsen & Christopher Weare.

BEST NEW SOUTH AFRICAN PLAY OR MUSICAL PRODUCED

Songs of Migration

Death of a Colonialist

Girl in the Yellow Dress

The Pen

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEAD ROLE (PLAY)

Jamie Barlett, for his riveting portrayal of the veteran teacher Harold Smith in Death of a Colonialist.

Graham Hopkins, for his part in the moving two-hander, Tuesdays with Morrie.

Nat Ramabulana, for his sensitive interpretation of Pierre, the young French-Congolese student in The Girl in the Yellow Dress.

Masoja Msiza, for poignantly revisiting a painful chapter in South Africa’s history in Biko: Where the Soul Resides.

Sello Maake ka-Ncube, for his portrayal of the playwright wrestling with writer’s block, in The Pen.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEAD ROLE (PLAY)

Clare Mortimer for her moving portrayal of a virtuoso violinist stricken with multiple sclerosis in Duet for One.

Lena Farugia, as an introspective Wallis Simpson in We and Them.

Marianne Oldham, as the complex English coach in The Girl in the Yellow Dress.

Mnabatho Mogomotsi, whose radiant performance joins the numerous other nominations for The Pen.

Sandra Prinsloo, the veteran actress dazzled in a one-person show in which an ageing grandmother reminisces about her life: Die Naai Masjien.

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL (MALE)

David Chevers - who played John Kelly in male-bonding saga, The Boys in the Photograph.

Hugh Masekela - who lent his mastery to the Market Theatre’s Songs of Migration.

James Borthwick - who provided depth to the character of Juan Peron in Evita.

Jonathan Roxmouth - as the egotistical, preening Danny in Grease.

Lindani Nkosi - as the Sangoma and Narrator in Shaka Zulu, The Musical.

Murray Todd - as one of the maybe-fathers in the light-hearted Mamma Mia!

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL (FEMALE) - Sponsored by Christopher Seabrooke

Angela Kilian - who asked us not to cry for her in Evita. She received standing ovations every night.

Candida Mosoma - for playing Shaka’s mother, Nandi, in the theatre-rattling production of Shaka Zulu.

Carly Graeme - for her astute portrayal of Mary Maquire in The Boys in the Photograph.

Gina Shmukler - for adding her customary gusto to the breezy Mamma Mia!

Nobunthu Mpahlaza - for her dramatic contribution to the popular Shaka Zulu.

Sibongile Khumalo - This powerful voice needs no introduction - and it was put to good use in Songs of Migration.

BEST CUTTING-EDGE PRODUCTION

Between the Teeth - Produced by The Bucklands and Barney Simon Theatre, Market Theatre Complex, and directed by Janet Buckland.

Butcher Brothers - Presented by The Market Theatre, originally produced by Dark Laugh and supported by Wits 969 2010 and a part of Arts Alive 2010. Directed by Sylvaine Strike.

Quack - Produced by FTHK and presented in association with The Market Theatre and Arts Alive. Directed by Rob Murray.

The Off-side Rules - Produced by the Goethe-Institut of SA, The Market Theatre and Dorky Park. Directed by Constanza Macras.

Womb Tide - Produced by FTHK and presented in association with The Market Theatre and Arts Alive. Directed by Rob Murray.

BEST DIRECTOR OF A PLAY OR MUSICAL - Sponsored by Percy Tucker

Craig Freimond - Death of a Colonialist

James Ngcobo - Master Harold and the Boys

Malcolm Purkey - The Girl in the Yellow Dress

Mpho Molepo - The Pen

Paul Warwick-Griffin - Evita

BEST COMEDY PERFORMANCE (PLAY, MUSICAL OR REVUE)

Alan Committie - for his hysterical contribution to the knock-about farce Boeing Boeing.

David Isaacs - for the humour of the school reunion comedy Joe Barber 5 School Cuts.

Marc Lottering – for his crowd-pleasing, Vaudeville-style patter in the panto, Robinson Crusoe.

Matthew Ribnick - for his no-holds-barred approach to Geraldine Naidoo's new comedy, Monkey Nuts.

Michelle Botha - for bringing levity, as Jock’s best friend and confidante, to the new South African show, Jock of the Bushveld.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE/CAMEO

Karabo Maithufi - as the playful Pepper in Mamma Mia!

Matt Counihan – the talented up-and coming performer brought zest, in his role as Doody, to Grease.

Michael Richard - for his thunderous villainy as Beelzebub in the panto, Robinson Crusoe.

Nat Ramabulana - for his poignant contribution to Master Harold and the Boys.

Pakamisa Zwedala - for his dramatic service, also for Master Harold and the Boys.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE/CAMEO

Illse Klink - as an ageing former member of a pop trio in Mamma Mia!

Kate Normington - also, as one the ageing former pop singers in Mamma Mia!

Tammi Mayer - for portraying the shy Bernadette in The Boys in the Photograph.

Thembeka Mnguni - for playing Miss Lynch and the gospel-style Teen Angel in Grease.

Zandile Msutwana - for her sympathetic interpretation of Thandi, the muse, in The Pen.

BEST MUSICAL DIRECTOR/SCORE/ARRANGEMENT - Sponsored by Matrix Sound

Charl-Johan Lingenfelder and Louis Zurnamer (MD) Evita

Clinton Zerf - (MD) The Boys in the Photograph

Ezbie Moilwa - (MD) Songs of Migration

Johan Vorster - (Composer) Jock of the Bushveld

Rowan Bakker - (MD) Mamma Mia!

Victor Masondo - (MD) Ma Brrr

BEST ORIGINAL CHOREOGRAPHY

Celeste Botha - The Boys in the Photograph

Constanza Macras - The Off-side Rules

David Gouldie - Evita

Gregory Maqoma - Master Harold and the Boys

Themba Nkabinde - Ma-Brrr

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A NEWCOMER / BREAKTHROUGH - The Brett Goldin Award

Kenneth Meyer - Evita

Khaya Maseko - African Tapestries

Oscar von Memerty - Circle of Life

Thembalethu Nthuli - Shaka Zulu

Vaughan Gardiner - Jock of the Bushveld

BEST PRODUCTION OF A PLAY OR MUSICAL FOR CHILDREN

African Tapestries - Presented by The National Children's Theatre, and directed by Joyce Levinsohn.

Beautiful Creatures - Produced by Ed Jordan & Alan Glass in association with Showtime Management. Directed by Paul Warwick Griffin.

Peter and the Wolf - Produced by Sylvaine Strike and The Joburg Promusica Theatre.

Noddy - Produced by the People’s Theatre and directed by Jill Girard and Keith Smith.

The Wizard of Oz - Presented by The National Children's Theatre, and directed by Joyce Levinsohn.

BEST THEATRE LIGHTING DESIGN - Sponsored by Chauvet

Jannie Swanepoel and Gareth Hewitt Williams - Evita

Nicholas Michaletos - The Boys in the Photograph

Nomvula Molepe - The Off-side Rules

Rob Murray - Wombtide

Wesley France - Songs of Migration

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Anne and Kersten Balles - Sing

Birrie le Roux - The Boys in the Photograph

Leila Anderson - Quack

Noluthando Lobese - Songs of Migration

Penny Simpson - Evita

BEST THEATRE SET DESIGN

Craig Leo & Emily Stark - Wombtide

Gary McCann - The Girl in the Yellow Dress

Johan Engels - The Boys in the Photograph

Nadya Cohen - Master Harold and the Boys

Sarah Roberts - Beautiful Creatures

BEST THEATRE SOUND DESIGN - Sponsored by Wharfedale Pro

Thulasizwe Zondi - Ma-Brrr

Richard Smith - The Boys in the Photograph

Freddy Malesa - Songs of Migration

Mark Malherbe - Evita

Trevor Peters - Shaka Zulu